Best Herbs to Grow in Utah

Start your heat-loving herbs indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date - that means getting basil, oregano, and tarragon seeds started by mid-March. Don't rush to transplant them outside; wait until soil temperatures consistently hit 60°F, usually 1-2 weeks after your average last frost. Cool-season herbs like cilantro, dill, and parsley can go directly in the ground 2-3 weeks before last frost, and you'll want to make succession plantings every 3 weeks through summer to avoid gaps when they bolt. Your perennial herbs - thyme, sage, oregano, and chives - are best planted as transplants in late spring so they have a full season to establish strong root systems before winter. For tender perennials like French tarragon and lavender, choose the most protected spot in your garden with excellent drainage, as wet winter soil kills more herbs in Zone 5 than cold temperatures alone. Consider portable cold frames or row covers to extend your season on both ends - they can give you an extra 2-4 weeks of growth in spring and fall, which makes a huge difference with a 155-day growing window.